Manual transmissions may be disappearing from modern performance cars, but BMW M2 buyers in the US are clearly not ready to let them go. According to BMW M CEO Frank van Meel, half of all M2s sold in America are equipped with a manual gearbox.
That is a remarkable take rate, especially when buyers can choose an eight-speed automatic that offers quicker shifts and greater convenience. For BMW, however, the figure is more than just an interesting statistic. It shows that enthusiasts are actually putting their money behind their preference for three pedals.
Even then, the manual’s future remains complicated. Stricter emissions rules, increasingly sophisticated driver-assistance systems, hybrid powertrains and a shrinking number of transmission suppliers are all making the technology harder to retain.
There are also engineering compromises. In some applications, BMW has had to reduce engine output because the manual transmission could not handle the available torque.
Source: Motor1
